Raven's Work From Home Resources
Finding the Perfect Situation - Finding A Good WAH Job
Finding the Perfect Situation - Finding A Good WAH Job
1. Never Pay for A Job:
Employers pay you; you need not pay them. If it looks like a job but asks for money outright, it's either a biz op, a misleading ad for a "how to" guide/website or a bit of falsehood which should be ignored. Unless one is looking to go into business for oneself, 'tis best to leave this alone.
2. Never Put Faith in Outlandish Pay Claims:
Not a soul earns $3,000 a week typing ads or making crepe paper angels. If 'twere true, there would be no ad, as the position would ne'er be empty.
3. Never Act Immediately:
I have been a recruiter for various enterprises, and I have contracted also. I am never expecting my prospective hires or clients to be signing up the same day as I am talking with them. It is a sign of impulsiveness and possibly poor judgement. Save the email, newsletter, and website and review it all at a later time when one's head is clear and not full of dreams. Talk with friends; use the anti-fraud resources to learn of the company's reputation. Do a web search on the net and newsgroups. Victims leave venomous messages all over the net - be making sure you are in a position to see them, my friend.
4. Never send a SASE:
Unless one is applying for an artistic position where an employer may wish to see samples of one's work and then return them to you, there is not a need for this. Be double careful, gentle traveller, if there is no request for a resume or application. It is a true thing that I have found - if there is a SASE involved, 'tis usually so they can use the stamps to send moneymaking schemes to you through the post at your own expense.
5. Use the Search Engines Wisely:
How is one to find a Telecommute position on the Internet? First off, one can be using a search engine, like Google or Yahoo! You will find companies looking to hire such a one as you, employment databases which specialise in telework, books, personal sites with much information (only some of which is reliable) and miscellaneous nonsense. Weeding through the hog swallow, a grand adventure, can be done easily with a few clever tricks.
In the search engines, use terms such as Telecommute, Telework, Freelance, Outsource and Contractor, over against work at home, and the like. These are terms used on a professional basis by folk in the workplace and thus it is less likely to produce envelope stuffing and home assembly positions. It is also a wise thing to qualify the search with words you are using on a daily basis in your profession, which will further narrow the field and take away more scam sites. On the same line, one can also disqualify certain terms like "home assembly" and "envelope stuffing" if it is desired. Why should one waste valuable time poking around through such things? (If you do not know how to disqualify a search, email me, I'll be glad to walk you through it)
In addition, it is a good thing for you to go to places such as Hot Jobs, Monster.com and your local employment agency. I have found these to frequently be of help. The positions in such places are less likely to be unreliable, especially if the employer must pay for an ad (as with Monster.com) to list a position there. In many of such places one can place a resume stating the desire to telework, and one can also submit proposals to positions you see online that you feel you could do well at home, even if the position was not listed as such.
Additionally, there are databases and companies who prefer to list situations favourable to home employ. Such things can be helpful tools, but you must keep a clear head as many of these sites are not worth a thing to you. Some of such places are free for all to use, and others will require a membership fee (usually a one-time fee). 'Tis a gamble with paid membership sites. Many of the fee sites, unfortunately, are a waste of good coin while some of them are excellent. Is it then worth it to try these areas? Personally I believe membership sites to be helpful as long as wisdom is used when approaching them. Don't join immediately. Find and bookmark all of them and make comparisons as to what is offered.
My friend, when you are deciding to use such a service consider the cost (10-30$ is reasonable and normative - $80 would be unheard of), the site's reputation (yes friend 'tis a good thing sometimes people have loose tongues in their heads when they are dissatisfied) and what services are offered for the fee. Sites with services like resume posting and editing, career tips, placement matching, updates services and newsletters are more likely to be legitimate than those with just a database are. You are also getting services which validate spending the coin. Membership sites with great ad copy but no clear description of the contents should be avoided like the plague friend. Indeed it should be a rule for you to never pay for a thing when you have not a single idea what it is you are buying. And trust me, dear one, if there were good additional services offered, they would be advertised.
6. Approach Resources Creatively:
It must be remembered, gentle traveller, that there are valuable resources about the internet that are marketed improperly. Thus it will be that you will research a thing and find much angry nattering and yet if you decide to empty your purse anyway you will find this thing to be a treasure of another kind than you expected. It is true, friend as I have experienced it. I purchased a membership which promised the key to becoming rich completing surveys and the like. The promises of riches were for naught, and yet the information was a valuable resource anyway. I researched these and found out what was actually in them and decided the information was worth the price. I had actually no idea how one would "break in" to the business and I was interested. The list alone led to many mystery shopping accounts and a few regular focus groups. No, I do not make a living at it, but it takes little time and often provides fun for the family. And I have earned many times more than I spent for the information. It is this that makes me feel that much of what is out there should be evaluated individually.
Cruising personal telecommuting sites like this one can be worthwhile, friend. See which sites you see recommended, read the stories, find the resource page. 'Tis not a scam free option by any stretch. The risk is there plain since many work at home folk use their personal sites to earn coin. I freely admit that I have presented around my site many sites with whom I am affiliated (I say if I am) and books from Amazon which will provide me with a commission should you decide to purchase them. I have tried to only present information which is reliable, sites which are worthwhile and books which are solid resources. But many do not have the same conscience, opinion about what is helpful, or time to filter through unworthy options. It is also possible that sites and information change and the webmistress could be left out of the loop. If her readers do not inform her that things have changed she cannot make updates.
Nevertheless, reading the contents, advice, biographical experiences and choices presented can give clues to the trustworthiness of services offered about the net. If I see many work from home Mom's naysaying a service I will avoid it like the plague. Honestly friend, the opportunity was so fraudulent they would not offer it to you to earn affiliation money or points. Does that not say something? Services mentioned on sites which have little content or critical thought and without a consistent positive work ethic, are less a safe option than those from other places. I read claims of becoming rich after only a few months work with a cautious eye, as I do with claims of making a comfortable living in a few hours a day. While some telecommuters do get rich, 'tis not without hard work ever and any who try to tell you otherwise are lying to you plain.
Some Recommended Employment Sites:
1. National Healthcare Discount:
A well established company, quick and simple advancement strategy. The downside is that it pays solely on commission. There is a refundable deposit for hooking up telephone system so that you do not have to pay for the calls. It is a part time position which can become fulltime. It is listed in the BBB in good standing last time I checked. It pays weekly. I have no affiliation with this company. The website does have good information for work at home parents available on the web for free even if you decide this is not where you wish to work. They advertise that one can make 80-120$ a week for about 15 hours work. I suppose 'tis possible, but one must realise that one is providing leads (warm calls) for telemarketers and is being paid per lead.
While I have seen suspicious things here, this membership site is worth the joining. It has databases, biz ops, resources and a very long, good track record. I have used it myself with great success. The owner of the site has written widely about how to outsource and avoid scams. I do not mind admitting an affiliation with such a site.
This is an affiliation of mine. It lists good quality jobs for the most part. Membership site that is worth a try, it emails jobs every two weeks. Avoid the trash ads on the sides of the page though.
This is a professionally done site, though it does require a membership. I am a member and an affiliate. There are many positions available, as well as help with resume writing and many helpful links. As far as the offsite links...I'd shy away from the marketing on the righthand side of the main page. Most of those affiliations I've had bad experiences with. The links on the left side of the page have all dealt fairly, honestly and reasonably with me. I highly recommend this site.
This is a new outsourcing site and a new affiliation for me. I have found some projects there, though it's importance to me will grow in time as the site's reputation and clientelle does.
This an online proofreading service. Their goal is to connect webmasters with work-at-home proofreaders. This way Webmasters won't drive people away from their site due to typos and proofreaders earn an honest part-time income at home. If you are a language and grammer whiz, this may be the place for you. I am a member and an affiliate, though I do less proofreading than I used to of late.
Here is one I have no affiliation with...but it is a good place to get a feel for what is available with telework. There is a $15 per year password fee, but so far all the links seem legit to me. There are some other good resources there even if you choose not to use this website as an employment resource.
This site is a virtual bonanza. There are resources for freelance, telework and home business, plus oodles of family stuff. There are articles about working at home with disabilities, ideas you can use to start your own home business and lots of extras and freebies. And I don't get a red cent for sending you there.
If you are desiring to e-mail me, click the link and have at it.
I
welcome the mail and will answer any questions you desire to ask me.